Lush, shady and cool central landscaped courtyards provide a retreat for residents. Upper, mid and lower storey shade loving species create a rainforest character in these outdoor spaces and establish a relaxing atmosphere popular with residents.

Organic pavement and turf shapes within these central courtyards create a paradoxical design response to the adjoining pavement gid that surrounds the development.

A formal paved entry road provides structure to the entry forecourt and is complimented with palms as well as specimen evergreen shade trees to offset the building height and built form. In addition to this, sub-tropical shrubs and groundcovers tolerant of coastal conditions make up the garden beds surrounding the development.

This site is positioned in Varsity Lakes and therefore additional landscape treatments to the streetscape were required as part of the overall covenant for the precinct.

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Privacy

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Space for Recreational Activities

Other landscape elements can include walking tracks throughout gardens, raised planter boxes for personal gardening and vegetable or flower beds and low maintenance spaces to reduce workload for more able retirees

Central Courtyards

Passive Architectural design strategies for Cooling

'Passive Design' strategies assist in reducing impacts on the environment including reducing operating costs, reducing the use of resources and providing better outdoor spaces.

Passive design is an important consideration for any development and providing outdoor spaces that link to internal spaces assist in allowing this design consideration to be achieved.

Courtyards play an important role and can have a wide range of benefits from social benefits through to environmental considerations. In this case, the courtyards were designed to be lush, sub-tropical outdoor spaces creating a breezeway through the centre of the building to help reduce the need for air-conditioning use.

The inclusion of 'large-leaf' shade loving species ensure survivability in a low light environment while providing colour, interest and a softening of built form. Turf enclosed in natural curved edging helps to reduce the structured pavement effect of the forecourts to the building.

Seats and water features also strengthen the strong rainforest character and help to build an atmosphere that is welcoming and relaxing while taking advantage of the climate.